Where does “bugfix” come from?

bugfix (English) comes from English fix, from Middle English fixen, from Old English fyxen, from Proto-West Germanic fuhsini, from Proto-West Germanic fuhs, from Proto-Germanic fuhsaz, from Proto-Indo-European púḱsos, from Proto-Indo-European puḱ- — tail; press together.

bugfix (English): A patch or change that fixes unwanted behaviour...

Definitions

  1. A patch or change that fixes unwanted behaviour...

Ancestry of “bugfix”, step by step

bugfix traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English fix

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfixTo pierce; now generally replaced by transfix; To...
2Middle Englishfixena vixen
3Old Englishfyxenvixen
4Proto-West Germanicfuhsinivixen, female fox
5Proto-West Germanicfuhsfox
6Proto-Germanicfuhsazfox
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpúḱsosthe tailed one
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpuḱ-tail; press together

via English Bug

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBugA Volkswagen Beetle car; A Bugatti car
2Englishbuggebeetle
3Middle Englishbuggebogy, hobgoblin, bugbear; scarecrow
4Proto-Germanicbugja-swollen up, thick
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European puḱ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European púḱsosEvery word from Proto-Germanic fuhsaz